Refrigerating apparatus



H. J. SCULLEN REFRIGERATING APPARATUS sept. 7, 1943.

Filed Aug. 23, 1940 Patented Sept. 1l, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE nEmGEnArlNG APPARATUS Hugh I. Scullen, Detroit, Mich., assigner to Nash-Kelvinator Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Maryland application August 2s, im, serial No. 353,942

e claim. (c1. cas-11s)- I This invention relates to refrigerati-ng apparatus, and more particularly to that typeof refrigerating' apparatus utilizing primary and secondary refrigerating systems.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved thermal connection between primary and secondary refrigerating systems.

Another object of my invention is to connect a secondary refrigerant condenser with a primary refrigerant evaporating portion and to insulate these parts so that they may be placed in any desirable position in or about a refrigerator without the collection of frost or ice thereon during operation of the primary refrigerant evaporating portion.

Another object of my invention is to arrange the aforesaid parts so that same may be readily removable from each other.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a vertical View in cross section of a device embodying features of my invention and showing diagrammatically a' primary refrigerating system and a secondary refrigerant evaporating element associated therewith;

Fig. 2 is a vertical view of the device showing the outer casing in cross section and the interior portion including the secondary condenser and the primary refrigerant evaporating portion in elevation;

Fig. 3 is a view taken along the line 3--3 of Fig. 2: and

Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the device shown in Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral designates in general a tank which constitutes the condenser of a secondary refrigerating system. Surrounding the tank 20 is a primary refrigerant evaporating portion or element 22. This element includes a vertical leg 24 which extends to the top of the tank 20 and then is wrapped around the tank to a point adjacent the vertical leg 24 where it is curved as at 26. On the lower end of the curve 26 is a straight portion 28 which extends around the tank 20 where it is bent to form a second curved portion 30. The primary refrigerant evaporating portion of the element 22 is similarly curved as at 32, 34 and 36, which are joined by straight portions 38, 40, 42 and 44. Refrigerant passes through the element 22 by first it flows downwardly through the various curved and straight portions and through an outlet 48. Thus, it will be lnoted that the refrigerant ows back and forth around the tank 20.V Preferably, the primary refrigerant evaporating portion 22 is of soft annealed copper which may be readily compressed as it is pressed into engagement with 'the tank 20. The element 22 is pressed or clamped into engagement withythe tank 20 by lmeans of a cylindrical sleeve 48 and bolts 50.

Although the curved portions are opposite each l other they are sufficiently spaced apart to permit f frigerant evaporating element gaseous refrigerant passes from the outlet 58 into the upper portion of the tank 20 where it is condensed by the refrigerating effect of the element 22 and ows as liquid into the inlet 54 of the evaporating element 456.

In order to prevent the collection of frost and ice upon the surfaces of the vprimary refrigerant evaporating element 22 and outer surfaces of the tank 20, I have surrounded the sleeve 48 with insulating material 50. I have also placed a soft rubber sleeve 62 over the tank 28. elementv 22 and insulation 60 toseal the insulation from the air surrounding such parts. 'I'he soft rubber tube 62 is clamped by means of a clamp 66 to a soft rubber disk 68. The disk 68 is split as at 18 so as to receive inlet and outlet connections 54 and 58 before the sleeve is clamped together by clamp 65. The sleeve 68 is also split as at 14 to permit the installation of a refrigerant inlet pipe 16 and a refrigerant outlet pipe 18. The pipes 54, 58, 16 and 18 are placed within the sleeve before it is clamped into position by the clamp 66. Also, before these pipes are clampedby the disk 68, sealing fluid such, for example, as Permagum is placed along the split portions 10 .and 14 and about the peripheral edge of the disk 68 where it is engaged by the rubber tube 62 so as to form an air tight seal within the interior of the tube 62. Consequently, no air can leak into the interior of the tube 62 and consequently no moisture will be frozen out on the cold surfaces therel Within.

entering the vertical extending portion 24 whence 55 Liquid refrigerant is delivered to the vertical leg 2l of the element 22 through the refrigerant inlet pipe 1l. This pipe 'Il may be a small diameter or capillary tube which controls the ow of refrigerant to the element 22. frigerant is withdrawn from the element 22 through the outlet conduit 18. The outlet conduit 'I8 flows tola second primary refrigerant evaporating element 84. Vaporized refrigerant is withdrawn from the evaporating element 84 through a vapor return conduit 8B by a refrigerant condensing element 88. The element 8l includes a motor compressor unit 80 which receives the gaseous refrigerant and compresses it and deliversit to a condenser 492. The condenser condenses the evaporated refrigerant Vaporized rei 1. Refrigerating apparatus comprising a primary refrigerant evaporator, a secondary refrigerant condenser in heat exchange relation with and delivers it to the small diameter tube 'I6l which controls the flow of refrigerant to the element 22.

From the foregoing, it will be readily apparent that I have provided an improved heat exchange connectionV between a secondary refrigerant condensing element and a primary refrigerant evaporating portion, and that vthese parts are so arranged that the primary refrigerant evaporating element may be placed into contact with the secondary refrigerant condensing element to provide good thermal contact. I have accomplished this by winding the primary refrigerant evaporating portion about the secondary refrigerant condensing element in the manner disclosed in Fig. 2. This provides for good thermal contact as the primary refrigerant evaporating portion may be clamped to any desired degree of contact with the secondary refrigerant condensing element. It will also be noted that I have insulated the primary refrigerant evaporating portion and the secondary condensing element from circulating air so that ,these parts may be positioned in any desired place without the collection of frost and ice thereon.

Although only a preferred form of the invention has been illustrated, and that form described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

said evaporator and a rubber sleeve surrounding said evaporator and condenser.

3. Refrigerating apparatus comprising a tank adapted to contain a volatile refrigerant gas, means surrounding said tanlc for condensing said gas and means for sealing said tank and first named means .to prevent air coming in contact 4. Refrigerating apparatus comprising a cylindrical tank adapted to house a volatile refrigerant, a refrigerant evaporating element consisting of a yieldable tubegsinuously wound into a coil of cylindrical conformation and of variable diameter. said coil substantially surrounding said tank, a refrigerant evaporator connected 'with said tank, a clamp for securing said coil and tank together in heat exchange relation, insulation enclosing said tank and coll, and a rubber sleeve surrounding said insulation.

5. Refrigerating apparatus comprising a cylindrical tank adapted to house a volatile refrigerant, a refrigerant evaporating element consisting of a tube sinuously wound into a coil of cylindrical conformation, said coil substantially surrounding said tank and means for removably securing said coil and tank together in direct heat exchange relation.

6. Refrigerating apparatus comprising a. tank adapted to provide a space for volatile refrigerant, a volatile refrigerant evaporator including a sinuously wound coil presenting a plurality of pairs of U-shaped bends with the bends of each pair being in vertical alignment and each pair being spaced from the other with the connecting members of each U-shaped bend in one pair opposing the connecting members of the other pair and means for removably connecting said U- shaped members to said tank.

l HUGH J. SCULLEN. 

